Third-round receiver could boost Packers’ return game

“He’s a bigger Cobb,” Seale said after Green Bay drafted Montgomery in the third round on Friday night with the 94th overall selection. “I think he’s a bigger Randall. That’s what I see in the kid.”

At 6-0, 216, Montgomery has two inches and roughly 25 pounds on Cobb, who burst onto the NFL scene four years ago as an impact return man.

Montgomery could do the same to help the Packers’ struggling special teams. He returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns in his career at Stanford. Both of the punt-return TDs came last season, and in 2013 he averaged 30.3 yards on 36 kickoff returns with two of his three career TDs.

“He can come in here and really elevate our special teams his first year, and push the people in front of him,” Seale said, noting he sees Montgomery as a coverage player as well.

General Manager Ted Thompson said upgrading the special teams wasn’t an “overriding factor” in the draft room decisions on Friday night, but it did play a role. He referred to Montgomery as having “return cred.”

“He’s a very strong runner, very instinctive, good quickness, all the things you look for,” Thompson said. “The key thing is his strength level is better than most.”

Montgomery joins a deep Packers receiving corps that already has two draft picks from a year ago – fifth-round selection Jared Abbrederis and seventh-rounder Jeff Janis – primed to battle for playing time behind the top three of Jordy Nelson, Cobb and Davante Adams.

Thompson never hesitates to keep the depth strong and competitive at that position, though. Montgomery is the sixth receiver the Packers have drafted in the last three years.

“The game is that sort of game,” Thompson said. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve had Brett Favre at quarterback or Aaron Rodgers. You get as many people to throw to as you can.”

Montgomery’s receiving production changed over his last two seasons at Stanford. He caught 61 passes each year, but his yardage dropped from 958 to 604, with his per-catch average falling accordingly from 15.7 to 9.9.

He did miss two games in 2014 due to a shoulder injury, and he said he was used differently in the offense, catching more passes at or behind the line of scrimmage rather than getting downfield. Seale attributed the drop-off to the injury and an off year for Stanford at quarterback.

Whatever the case, Seale liked the fact Montgomery “lined up all over the field” on offense and will bring a Stanford education to his film and playbook study in the NFL.

“I think I can do whatever is asked of me,” Montgomery said. “I do have the utmost confidence in myself. I’m going to work very hard, play confidently and make as many plays as I can.”

To do that, Montgomery plans to use his run-after-the-catch ability, which he feels is his best asset. That does indeed make him sound like a “bigger Cobb.”

“That is very flattering,” Montgomery said. “But I haven’t played a down in the NFL.”